Vriksha nursery

Vriksha nursery is a second generation nursery based in Mumbai where we strive to change the face of urban gardening in India with over 25,000 gardens executed in Maharashtra/Goa/Gujarat. We have a team of dedicated professionals who will leave no stone unturned to give you gardens of the utmost quality. Vriksha nursery has been synonymous with innovation in our field be it set landscaping(over 15000 teleserials/movies/adfilms), temporary landscapes (over 2500 exhibitions and weddings),ikebana flower arrangements, urban farming, rooftop gardens,living walls etc.
contact us :9820704069 Email: shaan_lalwani@hotmail.com
or better still
Drop by at: 1 ganga apts ,
irla railway soc(2nd last bungalow lane opp papilon hotel )
mumbai 400056.
WHY GO GREEN...WHEN NATURE HAS SO MANY COLOURS TO OFFER!

Monday, October 31, 2011

Diwali:When Trees Turn into Chinese Lamps!

MAY YOU LIGHT THE DIYAS Of JOY,BURST THE ROCKET OF LOVE,SEDUCE THE FULJADI OF SUCCESS...blah blah blah...happy diwali!!! The festival once celebrated of the return of lord Ram from the jungles has turned into a festival of cliches,gay sms,noise/air pollution,and garish decorations.trees are burning with lights as hot as the sun,dogs are terrified with crackers that feel like we are in some kinda mock war drill.here are 2 satellite images for our wonderious state pre and post diwali(i know they are fakes).

when half of India is down with an acute power shortage 16-18 hr power cuts are borne by the villages but out here the reason this city docent sleep is cause there are so many bloody lights....arriving in containers from the big red brother in the north these power guzzling neon's are eye sores of another level.












With temperatures on the bulb going up to 80-90degrees Celsius i don't know why its suddenly become the cool thing to drape the trees with these burning lights...15-20 clients every year come to me with charred burnt plants ...trees that are often 40 years old are draped in these mirchi lights burning them to the twig.Driving down the road today lines of dead trees line the road with the tree authority just too happy to hack them down claiming them dead....

What we did at the nursery?
Another festival another sapling give away....1000natives bhaindies,nilgiries,jangli badam,khair etc.iv still got about 150 left guys drop by if u wan some....
The clients with the nursery were in for an awesome green Diwali gift surprise ....table properties,teraniums were sent out to almost 200 loyal customers .5 of these awsome teraniums will soon be up for grabs at GirlyHour.com ......
A terrarium is a container which is designed to hold small plants in controlled conditions. The closed nature of a terrarium creates an environment which is easy to control, allowing people to simulate everything from the desert to the rainforest.
Its just a little gesture form our side to help you make gardening fun easy and non time consuming.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Horticultural Happiness... !!!


Its early in the morning...7s early enough...sipping on a cup of coffee...walking through the nursery...3 dogs hussle past 2 puppies chase them through my plants knocking a few of the plants down...niko(the cat) sits by at the kitchen window licking himself clean...the chirping of the birds is soft but incessant... there's a small nest in the avocado plant iv spotted a few days back...its a little green sunbird.... there's a flurry of tiny cabbage butterfly(yellow)..iv spotted a Pseudozizeeria maha(beautiful blue butterfly),Dry-season brood(a little brown butterfly) on de milkweed...the ipods playing Bob Dylan whos going on about answers in the blowing wind in a nasal but pleasant voice...its a weekday in the nursery n this is how our day begins...I LOVE MY WORK.
A glance at the days schedule its gona b a hectic day ...iv got to send almost 200 plants out for a shoot...iv got to make some teraniums ,more inverted tomatoes...its sowing time for the melons and strawberries...transplanting of the catmints n iv got 4 back to back meetings with people cause they want some of my plants...this is how i earl my living...this is how i earn my bread....i dont have a desk i dont have to wear a tie ...and sometimes i even go to work high ...(hahahaha...no thats just a song...),theres this quote i read yesterday there can be no other occupation like gardening in which, if you were to creep up behind someone at their work, you would find them smiling. ... couldn't be more true...im smiling end to end its a new day at the nursery...a hectic day.I LOVE MY JOB.

My nursery though in the heart of Mumbai seems far away from the noise...During divali irla is one of the hot spots for shopping...n even though my space is 2 mins away seems like miles from the madness...
we v got an early morning customer...who walks in at 7.15....its taken her 10 mins to find my place...she walks in and gasps
WOW....is this place for real...i love the feel of this place Its so peaceful...feels like goa.Mrs Juhi Narayan
she glances through the rows of herbs,vegetable plants and frantically points one of my worker to get her the biggest basil,rosemary,jalapino,black pepper....the song on my ipods changed john mayers like me is also waiting for this world to change...as i make her bill i think again...I LOVE MY WORK.

As the sun grows in the sky the workers arrive ...as i feed the dogs the pic up vans loaded with bamboos ficus bonsai's for a shoot for a tele serial...the day begins...as the work load increases the heat has reached its peak by the noon,Gardening requires lots of water - most of it in the form of perspiration. beads of sweat line my brow ...iv got 3 art assistants scrambling for whats left of my pisonia albas... luckily thers enough for all and the sindhi inside me is pleased cause i wont be turning away anyone disappointed....i walk onto my terrace defoliating my bonsai fondly remembering the stories the each of these over pampered old miniatures...iv not got a centrally air conditioned cabin nor do i wear a suit...but in my shorts and under the sun this is what i always wanted to be a nuseryman,horticulturist,landscape designer,landscape manager,plant collector,blogger, businessman,young entrepreneure....I LOVE MY WORK.

Time is flying by iv got to head for meetings but there's so much to do....the tomato's need to be staked the dogs need to be fed again...its hectic but the smile is evident on my face...the clouds have rolled in from nowhere,typical Mumbai rain..did you know God made rainy days so gardeners could get the housework done...but the meetings still on i drive into the madness listening to more acoustic music...a client wants a googled image of a garden recreated...matching every plant with a shade card....give them some options ideas etc and head back to the nursery...the plants have come back from a hard days work and the workers are spraying them clean...the last few clients roll in last few herbs to be sold...2 housewives 1 thyme ....moms trying to convince one of em that there will be more soon ....the dogs are asleep on the cold marble of the house the cats still loafing...and as the day winds up the smile is still there the butterfly's still fluttering...a last cup of coffee n off to narrate my day to my girl...DAYM I LOVE MY WORK

The days i spent in oblivion wondering where i was going...lost and lonely in a tiny little village i always wondering if it was worth all that i went through...but trust me if i could time travel and tell 19 yr old me something id let him know that its worth it all....cause at the nursery 6 years from now you will be HORTICULTURALY HAPPY

Monday, October 17, 2011

Inverted string kitchen gardening...!


1 thing common in most of the articles iv written is the unending groaning and moaning of the lack of space in the city ....the little pockets of greenery are always under threat and sprawling front yard gardens are a thing of the past Have you heard the buzz about these upside down (inverted) tomatoes? You can buy pricey containers abroad that make possible inverted growing technique, but here’s a really inexpensive way we figured out at the nursery .Growing vegetables upside-down makes home gardening easier.
There's no need to till the soil, to stake plants or to spend hours weeding your garden. And best of all, you can grow a wide variety of vegetables for you and your family.Watering is much easier, and the plants are more vigorous. Since plants hang above the ground, there’s no worries associated with their fruits touching the soil, which significantly lessens the chances of rotting or attacks from pests.
IF pests and blight are wrecking your plants, it might be time to turn your garden on its head. said, "No longer will you have to cage, stake or weed your plants or battle cutworms and other ruinous critters to put fresh tomatoes on the table."

What plants can be grown in it:



Tomato
The tomato is a popular plant for upside-down gardening. Cherry tomatoes are a good choice and flourish in this type of container.

Beans
Both pole and bush beans do well in upside-down containers. Be sure to water them thoroughly and place them in a sunny area.

Peppers
Bell peppers and hot peppers are good choices for an inverted garden. Hang containers in full sun and keep them well watered.

Cucumbers
Choose smaller pickling cucumbers as they are easier to grow upside-down. Bush cucumbers are not a good choice and don't do well in inverted containers.


Eggplant
Surprisingly, the smaller versions of eggplant grow well in upside-down gardens. The heavier and larger varieties of eggplant are difficult to grow in inverted planters.

Sweet potatoes:these are tubers grow fantastic over ground and the sizes of the tubers are considerably larger than that of the ones grown on the ground...

Other
Basil and parsley are low-growing herbs that can be planted alone in their own pots or placed in a container with any upside-down growing vegetables. Lettuce and radishes and watercress are low-growing vegetables that can be mixed in with other inverted plants.


Hang your upside-down garden in a sunny location and water it thoroughly, making sure it reaches the bottom. In fact, the water should run out of the bottom . Watering requirements for your upside-down garden will usually vary according to the types of plants used and your particular climate. Typically, in most places, especially during periods of hot, dry weather, your upside-garden will require watering daily, if not every other day.

As your plants grow, you may notice them reaching upward toward the sunlight. This is completely normal and will eventually cease as the plants get larger or begin bearing fruit. While it may seem a bit outside the norm, upside-down gardening is a great way to enjoy beautiful flowers and tasty vegetables all at the same time. What’s more is the fact that it doesn’t take up a whole lot of space, making this the perfect alternative for urban gardeners and others having little ground space. Upside-down gardening also provides the additional benefit of having your plants at eye level, eliminating the need for bending or stooping whether you’re watering or harvesting.


we at the nursery have got these upside down plant wonders for sale ranging for just rs 150 to rs 350 you can have your very own upside down planters....

Thursday, October 13, 2011

20 plants that survive at the Mumbai sea-face...!

Working with the little spaces in the city has always been a challenge that iv loved to take on...more often than not i come face to face with Mumbai's elite who have sprawling properties overlooking the sea.A common complaint that i come across is that nothing survives the monsoon salt blast leaves turn brown ,plants shed their leaves ...look bald. A large number of landscapers have used this as an excuse to re do gardens over and over again and earn a handsome buck out of it. Sustainability is a word alien to them...At VRIKSHA NURSERY...we make gardens to last you a lifetime and plant selection is essential to make such a greenspace.with over 35 gardens made at the sea face the following varieties have been tried...tested...and proven the following are the plants that i have stood the test of time.


1)Baringtonia:
Genus: Barringtonia.
Family: Lecythidaceae
subfamily: Planchonioideae
native to coastal wetlands in southern Asia and northern Australasia, from Afghanistan east to the Philippines and Queensland. Leaves are obovate. Red flowers are produced on pendulous racemes about 20cm long. Four sided fruits are produced periodically throughout the year. Partly deciduous in extended dry periods. This species grows on the banks of freshwater rivers, the edges of freshwater swamps and lagoons and on seasonally flooded lowland plains,



2)Lagerstromia:
Botanical name: Lagerstroemia indica
Crape myrtle is the smaller version of Lagerstroemia speciosa, commonly known as Pride of India or Queen crape myrtle. The deciduous crape myrtle is among the longest blooming trees in existence with flowering periods lasting from 60-120 days.Leaves are alternate and smooth, but leaf size depends on variety. Flowers are borne in summer in big showy clusters and come in white and many shades of pink, purple, lavender and red.




3)ingadulsis mendhi:
Henna is a shrub that can grow up to 7 m high at its tallest, with greyish-brown bark.a powerful and heady combination of earth, clay, chalk, and damp green leaves. In contrast, fresh henna leaves have no odor whatsoever, even when crushed between the fingers. The henna flower is delicate, petite, and four-petaled, with a profusion of slender and elongated antennas bursting from the center.



4)verigated malphigia:
Malpighia is a genus of flowering plants in the nance family, Malpighiaceae. It contains about 45 species of shrubs or small trees, all of which are native to the American tropics. can be kept as a small shrub and it will still fruit freely. In colder areas, potted plants can be moved to a warmer site in winter, and can be placed in full sun during the warmer months


5)belaprone bhutata:
These shrubs are natives of Brazil and Mexico. B. guttata, the Shrimp Plant, grows 2-3 feet tall and has dark green leaves and spikes of white flowers, which are shaped like long tubes that open out into two lips at the top. The flowers are surrounded by brownish-rose or yellow bracts that give them the appearance of boiled shrimp. This plant is popular for window gardens


6)bouganvellia thema:is a genus of flowering plants native to South America from Brazil west to Peru and south to southern Argentina (Chubut Province). Different authors accept between four and 18 species in the genus.The woody trunk tends to be twisted and the thin stem have sharp thorns and dark green leaves. Bougainvilleas can be easily grown as a hedge, an arch or a tree on the ground and in pots. Bougainvilleas available in a variety of species, is ideal for bonsai.


7)euphorbia pencil:The Pencil Tree Euphorbia tirucalli is a native of Africa, which has naturalized itself in India since thousands of years.The flowers are yellow and insignificant. Its latex is poisonous, so animals do not eat it, making it a favourite hedge plant in the countryside.this also happens to be the most selling plant in the last couple of weeks at the nursery for its insect repellent properties.


8)pisonia alba: commonly called the lettuce tree, is a small, evergreen foliage tree or a large shrub found in our gardens. It reaches a height of four to seven meters.The tree is originally from the beach forests of Andaman Islands and gardeners in Chennai fell in love with it. The result - it began to go places and reached inland gardens. Being a coastal tree it does not thrive as well on land as it does on the east and west coast of our country. The leaves are long and pointed and about 30 cm in length. They are of a pleasing pale green colour. Planted in good sunlight, the leaves may acquire a light yellow colour. The plant belongs to Nyctaginaceae family of bougainvillea and four o'clock plant. It is an irony that Pisonia alba, unlike the two other family members, is grown not for its flowers but for its leaves


9)acasia mangium:
native to tropical and subtropical regions of the world, particularly Australia there called wattles) and Africa. Acacias’ distinctive leaves take the form of small, finely divided leaflets that give the leafstalk a feathery or fernlike appearance. In many Australian and Pacific species, the leaflets are suppressed or absent altogether, and the leafstalks are flattened and perform the physiological functions of leaves. The leafstalks may be vertically arranged and bear thorns or sharp spines at their base. Acacias are also distinguished by their small, often fragrant flowers


10)hemilia patens:Firebush is a showy, fast-growing, semi-woody evergreen shrub that can get up to 15 ft (4.6 m) tall under ideal conditions, but usually stays much smaller. It has whorled leaves, usually with three but occasionally as many as seven at each node. The leaves are elliptic to oval, about 6 in (15 cm) long, and gray-pubescent underneath with reddish veins and petioles Listed as a nectar source on every butterfly list in circulation, firebush is relatively common as a "volunteer" (fancy name for a weed),



11)alpinia verigated is a beautiful variation of Alpinia zerumbet which is native to India. The 2 foot (60 cm) long leaves are striped with creamy yellow variegations giving them an appearance of a feather. The plants only reach 6-8 feet (1.5-2 m) tall. Clumps can reach up to 10 feet (2.5 m) across. They are not quite as aggressive as the non-variegated species. The plants are very showy whether in containers or in the landscape.


12)purple aranthimum:Purple false eranthemum is a hairless shrub from Polynesia, which grows to 7 feet in height, with rose-purple or white and purple flowers. Corolla tube usually rich purple, the petals rich pink with paler mottling or white, the throat purple-spotted; filaments and style often purple-tinged. Leaves variegated with purple or green and white. Pseuderanthemum is a genus of about 60 species of herbs and shrubs native to the tropical regions of the world.


13)Brassia actinophylla:
Evergreen tree to 12 m (40 ft) tall, with single or multi-stemmed trunks and greenish bark.
Leaves: Alternate with petioles to 61 cm (2 ft) long; palmately compound with mostly 7–16 leaflets, these shiny, light green, oblanceolate, to 30 cm ( long; margins entire (or sparsely toothed when young). Brassia. Has now changed its name to Schefflera actinophylla. Haven't got this one, but we do grow Schefflera outside in sheltered spots.



14)lemonia spectabliss:An exotic and rare plant, Lemonia is a large shrub with bright dark pink flowers. The flower petals have a grainy and hard texture. The flowers have a curious flattened appearance. Leaves are divided into three leaflets which are elliptic, dark green and glossy. Prefers semi-shade conditions and regular watering. Great butterfly attractor. Though it is known to grow to a height of 3-5 metres, it is mostly maintained as a shrub. It is especially attractive when grown in shrubby groups.



15)phoinex palm:Pygmy Date Palm" A small (even miniature) feather palm, from Laos and southeast Asia, with a slender trunk that can grow to about 10 feet (3.0m) in height. Fruit are small, about 1/2 inch (1.25cm) long, and range from dark purple to brown/black when fully ripe.They like lots of water and fertilizer during the hot months, and by giving palms a little extra nitrogen during the growing season, keeps them looking their best. Can be grown in shade to full sun and make wonderful planter palms for indoors or on the deck during the warmer months


16)pampus grass:one of more than 20 species of tall, reedlike Central and South American and New Zealand grasses comprising the genus Cortaderia (family Poaceae). Female plants bear silvery, plumelike flower clusters about 30 to 90 cm (1 to 3 feet) tall. Pampas grass is cultivated as a lawn ornamentalIn its natural environment, pampas grass provides shelter to a wide range of mammals and birds. When the flowers mature into seeds, the fine silky threads can be borne on the wind for miles, ensuring that the plant is well-seeded, and the plants are adapted to a wide variety of conditions, including extreme heat and cold. Pampas grass will also endure through flooding and fires.


17)caesalpinia sappan:is a species of flowering tree in the legume family, Fabaceae, that is native to Southeast Asia and the Malay archipelago.Sappan is a small thorny spreading tree, grows up to 10 m in height and the wood reaches 15-30 cm in diameter. They come to maturity in three months' time. Only few seeds mature. Sappan is cultivated as a horticultural plant for its large compound leaves and bright yellow flowers. Its branches when interlaced make a strong barrier, hence, it is considered as a live fencing plant. It grows well in all kinds of soil and lush growth is obtained in red soil. It withstands any amount of drought and defoliates only for a short period of 10-15 days.


18)narium oliander:Beautiful blossoms, of fragrant pink flowers in bunches, at the tip of branchlets rendering an eye-catching sight that is 'Oleander'. A native of India and the Mediterranean, it is now widely grown in tropical and subtropical gardens, parks, avenues, and is popular for its hue and fragrance. It rises up to 3 meters erect with its short branches and dark dusty green leathery narrow leaves, which grow in whorls The fruit is a long narrow capsule 5-23 cm long, which splits open at maturity to release numerous downy seeds. The plants are almost free from pests and diseases and untouched by cattle and goats, due to their toxicity. In India they are thus the most favoured plants for the road dividers, where a plant has to withstand heat and dust, and little water.

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19)plumeria alba:White frangipani has beautiful white flowers with yellow centers, and the flower looks fully opened unlike plumera rubra. Frangipani is well-known for its intensely fragrant, lovely, spiral-shaped blooms which appear at branch tips. The tree itself is rather unusual in appearanceThis large evergreen shrub has narrow elongated leaves and steel gray branches . the plant possess a irritating, milky sap, rather similar to that of Euphorbia. Contact with the sap may irritate eyes and skin. Each of the separate species of Plumeria bears differently shaped alternate leaves, with distinct form and growth habits. The leaves of P. alba are quite narrow and corrugated, whereas leaves of P. pudica have an elongated shape and glossy, dark-green color. P. pudica is one of the everblooming types with non-deciduous, evergreen leaves.


20)plumbago:is a herb that grows wild in India and has been used by rural and tribal people for hundreds of years as a traditional system of medicine. Chitrak is native to SE Asia. It is a much branched, evergreen shrub that reaches about 6 feet in nature. Dark green leaves are ovate to 6 inches long by half as wide. They are fast growing plants, but their size is easily controlled by pot size and pruning. The flowers are white in showy dense racemes and will flower all year long. Individual flowers are up to ½ inch (a bit more than 1 cm) across.


There are many more varieties that work well on the sea face drop by at the nursery ...id love to personally show you around.

Monday, October 3, 2011

25th birthday plant give away.....win some awesome green goodies!




6th October is the birthday of Sarita Remedios....my girlfriend..my inspiration and someone who means the world to me....
On the occasion of her 25th birthday.....heres your chance to win yourself loads of stuff from the nursery...send her your sweet wishes....and for every awesome birthday greeting ill be giving a whole lot of green goodies ....from teraniums to table top landscapes...bonsais...herbs,vegetables, saplings...come on guys the bigger the smile on her face the more the plants i give away......